Coin-controlled mechanism



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. A. MANLBY. GOIN GONTROLLED MEGHANISM.

No. 545,634. Patented Sept. 3, 1895.

' (No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

H. A. MANLEY. GOIN GONTROLLED MECHANISM.

No. 545,634. Patented Sept. 3,1895.

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' NITED STATES PATENT Ormes.

HORACE A. MANLEY, OF BOSTON,.ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM N. OSGOOD, OF

A MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS. v

COIN-CONTROLLED 'M ECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,634?, datedSeptember 3, 1895.

Application tiled October 29. 1894. Serial No. 527,397. (No model.)

tion of the same, reference being had to they accompanying drawings,forming part of'this specification.

This invention has reference to improvements 1n machines in which theoperating mechanism may be unlocked for the purpose of operation bymeans of acoin orits equivalent. v

The object of the invention is to so construct a machine of'this naturethat it is more particularly adapted for the uses of an informationmachine than those heretofore constructed.

Another object of the invention is to so construct a visual machine ofthis nature that the device through which the information or othermatter may be viewed is movable with reference to such matter.

Another obj ect of the invention is to so construct a coin-operatedmechanism that while the device in which the viewing-slot'is formed ismovable over the matter to be disclosed by the opening of said slotmeans are provided for hiding the remainder of such matter or objectsfrom view.

Another object of the invention is to so construct a coin-operatedmechanism that the operating mechanism adapted to be released by theweight of a coin can be moved without disclosing the matter 0r objectssupported behind the same.

Another object of the invention is'to so construct a device of thisnature that the movable operating mechanism may be automatically lockedagainst movement during its 0peration.

Another obj ect of the invention is to so construct a coin-operatedmachine in the nature of an information device that the questions andanswers may be printed on one piece of material and so used in themachine.

The invention consists in the combination, with a suitable case, of adevice in which a viewing opening is formed traversably Theinventionalso consists in the combination, with a series of questionsand answers, of a coin-operated mechanism traversably mounted over saidanswers and having an opening through which the same may be Viewed and ashutter for closing the opening.

The invention also consists in the combination, with the case and theseries of answers therein, of the disclosing device and a beltextend-ing from the disclosing device adapted to cover the answers notcovered by such device. y

The invention also consists in the peculiar construction of thecoin-controlled mechanism, the manner in which the same is mounted, andin the means for automatically locking t-he same from movement whileunder operation.

The invention also consists in the peculiar coin-controlled mechanism,the belts for hidingthe answers, and in the means for operating thesebelts.

The invention still further consists in the peculiar locking mechanismwhereby, when in position to prevent the opening of the shutter, it isnot subjected to frictional strain from the part with which it locks,and is extremely sensitive to the action of the coin to release theshutteroperating mechanism without allowing the cointo pass.

The invention also consists in such other novel features of constructionand combination of parts as may hereinafter be more fully described, andpointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the improved machine in itsduplex form,'por tions of the belts being broken away to show theanswers behind the same. Fig. 2 representsY an enlarged end View ofportions of the same, partly in section. Fig. 3 represents an enlargedface view of. portions of the machine with the front or cover removed.Fig. 4 represents a cross-sectional view taken on a line a a, Fig. 3.Fig. 5 represents a vertical sectional view taken on a line b b, Fig. 4,showing the coin-lever -in two positions. Fig. 6 represents a view ofthe coin-controlled IOO llO

mechanism removed from the machine, the shutter and its operatingmechanism being shown in the closed position in full lines, theirrespective locations in the open positions being indicated in brokenlines.

Similar numbers of'reference designate corresponding parts throughout.

In carrying my invention into practice I construct a box or case havingthe front formed of a frame 7, furnished with aglass 8, and havingrecesses 9 9 and 10 10, each pair of which is connected by a verticalrecess 1l 11. In the back surfaces of the frame and parallel with therecesses 11 11 are the grooves 12 12, the outer rear portions of whichare widened to form coin-chutes 13 13, which are partially covered byslotted plates, as 14,

and are connected at the upper ends with g coinlslots 15 15, and attheir lower ends with; any suitable coin-receptacle. The side frames ofthe Afront have vertical slots, which are proi tected by the strips 16and 17, the strips 17' having a serrated edge 17', and on its backailongitudinally-extending rib 18. The backl 19 of the case has verticalrecesses, as 20, and is furnished with a top 21 and a bottom 22,;between which the front is pivotally secured by bolts, as 28.

In the case is mounted a card left-hand side of Fig. 1.

questions. In the drawings a duplex machine 1s shown, but it is obviousthat both sides of the card may correspond, or thatl with properarrangements of the apparatus a machine with but one series of questionsand answers may be used.

Vertically movable in the slot between the` strips 16 and 17 of eachside of the front is a plate 25 or 26, which carries the coin-con`trolled mechanism, the construction of which addresses having slots27and 28, through the y opposite ends of which the numbers of the` Thisplate 25 has also the slots 29 and 30 and 31 and 32` and an opening 33,the edges of which form advertisements may be seen.

guides. Between this opening and the nameslots is a vertical slot 34,the lower end of t &c., may be viewed at all times.

24, having ai series of advertisements, questions, the., printl` ed onits central portion and answers or ad. dresses ofthe advertisers printedat the sides. 5 There more than a single column of answersi is necessaryI so arrange them that the hori-f zontal center of one space will lieopposite the lower and upper edges of the adjoining spaces in the nextcolumn, as is shown at the Where a single col umn of questions and acorresponding col-. umn of answers is used, as is shown at thelright-hand `side of Fig. 1, the spaces for the' answers are preferablyopposite thoseof' the;y

which is open. The outer end of the plate is bent at right angles withthe main body to form the bearing-flange 35, and adjacent to this lip,on the opposite side of the plate 25, is secured the L- shaped lip 36,which engages the rib 18 on the plate 17 and slides thereon. On the backof the plate 25 is pivoted the shutter-arm 37, having the slot 38 andthe shutters 39 and 40, of a length to close Vthe slots 27 and 28,except at their end portions, through which the` members of theaddresses, To the lower bent end of the shutter-arm is pivoted the plate41, reciprocally mounted between the edges of the opening33 and havingthe hori zontal knifebolt 42 and the operating-grip 43. To this plate 4land to the plate 25 is secured the spring 44, which tends to throw theplate 4l outward and to hold the shutters in the depressed position. Inthe slot S4 is `pivoted the bent coin-lever 45, extending into thegroove 12, having a counterweight 46 and a locking-shoulder 47, abovewhich is the inclinedend 48. The locking-shoulder extends through theslot 38 in the shutter-arm, and when in its normal position prevents thenpward movement of the shutter-arm by resting against the lower edge ofsaid slot.

In the recesses 9 9 and 10 10 are secu red the elliptic springs 49 and50,v between the ends of which the rollers 51 and 52 are journaled. Atthe outer ends of these rollers are sprockets 53 and 54, and with thesesprockets are engaged sprocket-belts 55 and 5G, the ends of which aresecured in the slots` 31 and 32 of the respective plates 25 at the sidesof the machine, so that by the traversing of the plates 25 the rollersare caused to rotate. To the vmain portions of theserollers are securedthe ends of the belts 57 and 58, the opposite ends of which are securedin the slots29 and 30 of the respective plates 25. Thus the traversingof the plate 25 upward will cause the rollers, through thesprockebbelts, to rotate to take up the belt 57, while the belt 58 islet out from its roller. These belts being as wide as the column orcolumns of answers will hide the same from view above and bolow theplates-25.

To operate the machine, the grip 43 is traversed upward or downward, asis necessary to bring the number of the address or answer in viewthrough the address-slot where the lefthand side of the machine is to`he used, or to bring this slot opposite the question, as on the rightside of the machine. In doing this the rollers 51 and 52 are rotated bymeans ofthe trolley-belt to take up one of the belts 57 or 58 whileletting out the other belt. As either of these last-mentioned beltsiswound on its roller it will increase the diameter of the same, andtoallow for this the rollers are mounted in the springs so that these willgive to the strain.

When the coin-controlled mechanism has been shifted to the properlocation, a coinis dropped into the coin-slot 15, and, passing IOO IIS

down through the coin-chute 13, rests on the bent end of the coin-lever45, which extends through the `chute and enters the groove 12 beyond.The weight of the coin on the lever depresses the lower end of t-hesame, and the upper inclined end acting at the same time moves towardthe inclined upper edge of the slot 3S in the shutter-arms, thus freeingthe arms from the shoulders 47 of the lever, the lever thus assuming theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings and stillholding the coin from dropping, as the inclined end of the coin-leverbearing against the inclined upper edge 38' of the slot 38 in theshutter-armprevents further movement. The grip 43 is nowYpushedjin-ward, the first result being to engage the knife-bolt 42between two of the serrations or teeth on the strip 17, thus preventingthe traversing of the mechanism in the vertical direction. As the plate41 moves inward the shutter-arm 37 pivoted thereto will be thrown upwardand the shutter or shutters will be raised, disclosing the address or'other matter hidden behind the same. The inclined end 48 of thecoin-lever will now be allowed to move far'n ther inward until the coinis released. The lever then swings back, and when the grip is releasedand the plate 41 is pushed into its normal position, after note has beenmade of `the address, the shoulder 47 again engages 'the lower edge ofthe slot 3S in the shutterlever and locks the same.

By the use ot' the knife-bolt 42, engagingthe serrated edge of the strip17, the moving of the coin-controlled mechanism over the columns ofaddresses is prevented while the shutter is raised, and when thislocking mechanism is released sufficiently to allow the moving of thedevice over said addresses the coin-lever operates to lock the shutterand from its serrations.

It is obvious that any other suitable belts may be used in place ofthose herein shown and that the plates 25 may be furnished with one ortwo name-slots, as is shown in Fig. 1. of the drawings.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl 1. In acoin controlled machine, thecombination with means forsupporting matter to be Viewed, of a platemovable before such matter and having a viewing slot, and a coincontrolled mechanism mounted on said plate and including a coin leverand a shutter cooperatingwith the lever and adapted to close the viewingslot.

2. In a coin controlled mechanism the combination with means forsupporting matter to be viewed, of a shield mounted to move before suchmatter, a traversable coin controlled mechanism connected with theshield,

The lip 36, bearing on the rib nation with a case containing matter tobe viewed, a plate traversably mounted before said matter and furnishedvwith a viewing slot, and a shutter for closing the slot, of shieldsconnected with the plate for hiding that portion of the mattei' notcovered by the traversable plate.

5. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination with a case, and aplate traversably mounted therein and furnished with a viewing slot, ofa shutter for closing the slot, a device for operating the shutter, andmeans for automatically locking the plate in position when the shutteris operated.

6. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination with acase, a platetraversably mounted therein and furnished with a slot, and a shutterpivoted to the plate and adapted to close the slot, of a coin-leverpivoted to said plate and adapted to lock the shutter, a de vice foroperating the shutter when unlocked, and. means for automaticallylocking the plate in position when the shutter is operated.

7. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination with a case, a platetraversably mounted therein and having a slot, a shutter pivoted to saidplate and adapted to close the slot, of a device reciprocally mounted onthe plate to which a portion of the shutter is pivoted, and a coin-leveradapted to engage the shutter to lock the same.

8. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination with a case, and atoothed rack secured thereto, of a plate traversably mounted over therack and having an opening, a shutter pivoted to the plate for closingthe opening, a'

second plate reciprocally mounted on the first plate and pivoted to theshutter, and means carried by the reciprocal plate for engaging therack.

9. In a coincontrolled,machine, the combination with a case containingmatter to be viewed, a plate traversably mounted in the case before suchmatter and having an opening through which such matter may be viewed,and a shutter for closing the opening, of belts in the nature of shieldssecured to said plate, rollers on which these belts may be wound, andmeans connected with said plate for actuating the rollers during thereciprocation of the plate.

10. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination with a case, and aserrated strip secured thereto and having a longitudinal rib, of a platetraversable in the' case over said rack andhaving a slot, an L-shapedlip secured to the plate and adapted to traverse IOO IIO

along the rib of the serrated strip, a shutter pivoted to said plate forclosing the slot, a second plate reciprocally mounted onthe first platebeing pivotally connected with the shutter and carrying a locking bolt.adapted to be engaged between the serrations of the strip.

11. The combination with a case provided with the front 7, the Verticalside-frame of which has the groove I2, the coinehute 13 and a lateralvertical side slot, the strips 16 and 17 secured along the side slot,and the plate 14 secured over the coin-chute, of the plate 25 extendingthrough the side slot hav.- ing a naine opening, a vertical lever-slot34 and the horizontal opening 33, a shutter arm pivoted on said platehaving the opening 38 with the upper inclined edge 38 and a shut-` ter,the coin-lever 45 pivoted to swing in the lever opening extendingthrough the coin-l chute and having the shoulder 47 and the in clinedend 48 adapted to extend through the; opening 3S ofthe shutter-arm, andthe platei 4lA reciprocal in the opening and `pivotedl to theshutter-arm, having the knife-bolt 42 for engaging between the`serrations of the plate I7, and the grip 43 for operating and z5traversing the whole, as described.

12. In a coin-controlled machine, the coinbination with a case, springbearings secured at the upper and lowerportions thereof, the

rollers 5l and 52 journaled in the bearings 5o and having the sprockets53 and 54, belts secured to the main bodies of said rollers, and asprocket-belt engaging the sprockets, of a plate as 25 traversablymounted in the case between the rollers to which the ends of the 35respective belts are secured, said vplate having a naine slot., andacoin-controlled shutter

